The effort helped as the company's workload increased in the automotive, industrial, packaging, military and sporting goods markets, said Candice Etchepare, C-Pak general manager.

Beginning in January 2012, the program of the County of San Bernardino workforce investment board provided pre-screening and recruitment services that led to the identification, and hiring, of eight trainees for various positions with the C-Pak production department.

The program reimburses an employer for a portion of a trainee's wages. "It is our understanding that some of the funds used by the workforce development board were part of the federal government stimulus program as well as other local, county and state funds," Etchepare said.

She indicated the retention rate of the program's employees has been higher than those of C-Pak workers found through many other sources.